Lord Julian Fellowes, the creator of the beloved series Downton Abbey, is preparing to bid farewell to the Crawley family and their staff after a remarkable 15-year run. The Oscar-winning writer has steered the characters through numerous life events, but he has also faced significant personal challenges recently.

Fellowes underwent an MRI procedure at St Mary’s in Paddington, London, to address a neurological condition that has affected his daily life for a decade, making tasks like eating and writing arduous.

Despite these challenges, Fellowes remains dedicated to his craft. He acknowledges that his work may have changed him, but he doesn’t mind.

Downton Abbey’s Final Chapter

fellowes has been busy with the final Downton Abbey film, the Grand Finale, which reunites stars such as Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, and Elizabeth McGovern. He confirms that this will be the last film with the current cast, stating, “It’s time to let them go.”

The film’s release coincides with the first anniversary of Maggie Smith’s death. Her character, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, passed away in the second film in 2022.

“I felt we would miss Maggie very much while making this. And we did,but she’s in the film – in spirit,” he says. “They refer to her and we have the portrait of her in the hall.” The credits will include a tribute to her significant contribution to the show’s success.

Fellowes describes his friendship with Smith, which began during the production of Gosford Park in 2001, as “a very good partnership.” He notes her professionalism and their seamless collaboration, adding, “I don’t think I’ll ever have that again on that level.”

when asked what Smith would have thought of the finale, Fellowes believes she would have appreciated it, despite her claims of never watching the show. He explains, “She always maintained she never watched the show. I found this slightly hard to believe because she was a perfectionist and always took her performances tremendously seriously.”

Joanne Froggatt revealed that mick Jagger is a fan of the show. Fellowes mentioned that Jagger has read some of his books and that they have had conversations over the years, describing him as “a terribly nice man.”

The loss of Smith and other loved ones has made Fellowes more aware of his mortality. “I am in my seventies now, so I have to address the fact that every year I will loose friends – some who are contemporaries,” he says.”That is part of getting old. And it does make you reflect on what your life has been.”

Fellowes is not afraid of dying but fears becoming overly dependent on others. “I fear becoming very, very dependent – where I can’t do anything for myself and I’m waiting for someone to come in and dress me or feed me. I hope I leave before that gets too bad.”

Health Challenges and Future Projects

Fellowes suffers from spinal stenosis, which causes nerve compression. He has undergone surgery twice, with the most recent procedure a couple of years ago providing some relief, even though the problem has as returned. He uses a wheelchair for mobility but can stand for short periods.

Despite his health issues, Fellowes remains active. He is currently writing a fourth season of The gilded Age for HBO, a series set in 1880s New York. he also enjoys watching television, with mad Men being a favorite and recently binge-watching The Fall. He is open to watching Love Island, stating, “I don’t have any snobbery about television. I no lots of people who are fans.”

Fellowes prefers to base his stories on factual events. For The Gilded Age, he used Carla Peterson’s Black Gotham to create characters inspired by the African-American community in New York during the 19th century. He noted that some viewers questioned the existence of such figures, but historians supported the show’s accuracy.

Unlike shows like Netflix’s Bridgerton, which features actors of color in white Regency roles, Fellowes prefers to adhere to historical accuracy. “I’m not against anything. If people enjoy Bridgerton great. But for me, the truth is always more interesting.”

AI and the Creative Industry

Fellowes is composed about the increasing use of AI in the creative industry. He supports the need for regulation, as highlighted during the US writers’ strike in 2023, but believes that “trying to make laws that control AI is like Queen Elizabeth I trying to pass laws that govern traffic lights. It’s all unfurling as we speak.”

“It’s time to let them go.”

He is concerned about copyrighted material being used to train AI. “I felt it was rather unneeded and odd that people should be able to use what we had invented with no cost at all. I don’t know whose luminous idea that was. but for the most part, I think we just have to wait and see what AI comes up with and find a way to live with it.

“I’m sure if they put in 30 scripts that I’ve written, they would probably get something out that was better than anything I could have done. Life keeps changing. All any of us can do is respond and just hope there’s still a place for you.”

Fellowes, who was approaching his 76th birthday at the time of the interview, reflected on his life. “I think I’ve had a pretty good run, actually.”

He plans to continue his life as usual, with a focus on steadiness and writing thank-you notes by hand.